Hope Ministry Profile

New Ministry Profile
Hope Lutheran Church
River Falls, WI

Last January 2005, a number of individuals and families with background in the Lutheran tradition began meeting on Sunday evenings for lay led worship in an intimate vespers setting. After several months of meeting, the group began to explore the possibilities of obtaining official recognition from the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA. Once this process was started, the group began having pastoral participation for communion and looked toward the viability of establishing a new ELCA congregation in River Falls, Wisconsin. All summer of 2005, the group met every Sunday evening and envisioned Sunday morning services to begin in September. Hope Lutheran Church became the formal name of the congregation. The group was diverse and included individuals that were seeking a place of worship, which wanted to be compassionate, caring, courageous and inclusive. Their strong desire was for diversity: diversity of individuals, diversity of theological thought, diversity in caring for all individuals.

Hope Lutheran was officially recognized in June of 2005 as a ‘congregation in development’ in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and formally approved by the Synod Council on September 24, 2005. As of June, Hope was given authorization to utilize ordained Lutheran clergy during worship and so, receive the sacraments during their own worship services. Since the early days of January, Hope has experienced growth and now worship participation averages about 100 persons per Sunday. We are a caring congregation that involves most of our members in activities and opportunities for groups with similar interests needs and gifts. We work to help all feel at home and many of the congregation enjoy spending time together, sharing our lives and interests. Yet we recognize and remember that in diversity such intimacy may not be welcomed, comfortable or desired by everyone and we desire to honor that diversity as a gift from God.

Hope Lutheran has a strong interest in service and mission. Malawi feeding stations became our first mission project and the congregation opened its heart, offering solid financial support during the synod’s quarter collection. Hope also supports the local food shelf, responds to people in need, is bold in lifting up peace and justice issues, and cares for the sick and suffering because as members of the family of God, we are called to serve others. The ELCA Hunger programs, offering assistance in national and international relief efforts, and seeking to care for local community needs are a priority for us. Hope Lutheran plans to support synodical and church wide benevolence at 15% of its budget and fund other needs such as Malawi feeding stations, the Tuesday dinners, Grace Place, and area shelters through additional intentional giving.

Ecumenically, Hope Lutheran has already established relationships with other area churches. At the invitation of the First Congregational Church, our children participated in Summer Vacation School with six of our members as teachers. We worship at the Chapel of the Roman Catholic Newman Center. The United Methodist Church has offered us space for meetings. The Missouri Lutheran Church is sharing their fellowship hall for a reception following our Carols and Candles service during Advent.
Since January, numerous pastors have supplied our pulpit and served the worship needs of our congregation by participating in our Sunday morning worship. Hope’s members actively participate in all aspects of the worship service. Now with an ordained pastor present, communion can be celebrated every service. Pastor Jean Gfall was installed on November 6, 2005, as part-time pastor under contract. Her energy, compassion, love of children and adults and her ability to function in the community bring additional resources to the long list of gifted and caring people at Hope. It is our ‘hope’ that we might grow and make a difference in the lives of all who worship at Hope and that we might be a beacon of acceptance to all looking for a safe, truly welcoming community of faith in which to grow in God’s love and serve in God‘s world.

Pierce and St. Croix Counties are the fastest growing areas in Wisconsin. Hope’s presence as another ELCA congregation in River Falls recognizes that growth and allows people to have more than one ELCA option in a community that is very diverse in many ways. Hope looks forward to welcoming new people into our congregation as together we search for connections and a deeper understanding of the amazing grace of God.

Return to the Hope Lutheran web page

Office Phone: 715-425-9750